Sermon -- The Festival of the Confession of St. Peter (January 18, 2026)

o wn is Greek for
"He who is"

THIS IS A ROCK-SOLID CONFESSION.

MATTHEW 16:13-19 

In the name + of Jesus.

     “When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is’” (Matthew 16:13)?  Jesus knew that people were talking about him.  Jesus’ miracles had caught the attention of everyone—even of King Herod who longed to meet Jesus.  Jesus’ teachings had caught the attention of everyone—even of high level religious leaders who considered Jesus a threat.  So, people were talking about Jesus, and Jesus wanted to know, “Who are they saying I am?”

     For the most part, people had nice things to say.  “Some say [you are] John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets” (Matthew 16:14).  They were complimentary, but they were also wrong.  To confess that Jesus was a nice man, a good teacher, or a prophet of God fails to confess Jesus correctly.  Jesus did not come to this world to be flattered.  His claims demand much more than that.  They still do.

     Jesus wanted to hear his disciples’ confession.  “He said to them, ‘But you, who do you say that I am?’  Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’” (Matthew 16:15-16).  This goes far beyond saying he is nice, which would have been true enough.  It goes far beyond saying Jesus is a good teacher, which also would be true enough.  It even goes far beyond saying Jesus is a prophet of God.  Peter confessed that Jesus is the Son of the living God. 

     The nations around Israel worshiped many gods; the Jews worshiped only one.  The Old Testament creed is this: “Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4).  So, to confess that Jesus is the Son of the living God is to confess that he is God.  And that is who Jesus claimed to be.  If anyone came up to you later today and insisted, “I am God!” you would either laugh in his face or heap scorn upon him—and for very good reason.  If anyone claims to be God, we dismiss him as a lunatic.  This is what Jesus presents us with.  Either he is God or he is a lunatic worthy of scorn.  There is no middle ground here.  Simon Peter confesses it rightly: The LORD our God is one.  Jesus is the Son of God.  Therefore, he is God.  This is a rock-solid confession.

     If you find yourself having a religious conversation, most people will want to talk about issues of morality, usually with a political streak in it.  If they only want to talk about morals, try doing what Jesus did.  Ask them what they think of Jesus.  Then ask them why they think that.  It is interesting to learn what people think of Jesus and why they think that way.  Their confession will be informative, perhaps surprising, perhaps appalling.  May would rather talk about immigration, women’s rights, or Donald Trump.  But no one will be asked about those things on the Last Day.  Those issues have their place, but we do not build our lives on them.

     So, what about you?  Who do you say Jesus is?  St. Peter, who made the rock-solid confession, later wrote in his first epistle, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15).  More and more, we find ourselves living among people who don’t know what the Bible teaches.  Many are getting their theology from YouTube instead of the Bible.  Most are being taught badly, if they know anything at all.  You can no longer assume that people know about Jesus’ teachings or his sufferings, death, and resurrection.  You may be the first person to open the Scriptures to people you know and love.  It will be good to have a rock-solid confession to make to them.

     You share St. Peter’s confession.  Perhaps for your entire life you have believed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.  If so, praise God.  The Christian faith is not something which is common knowledge.  It is a gift of God.  Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 16:17).  On the other hand, if you have been a Christian your whole life long, you may stutter and stammer if someone asks you why you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.  To say, “Well, it’s what I’ve been taught since Kindergarten,” might be true, but it also gives the impression that you have never examined the Christian faith or thought too deeply about it.  Unbelievers and skeptics will demand better than that; and that’s okay.  So, let’s consider why this is a rock-solid confession.

     First, consider the prophecies which were made hundreds of years before Jesus was born.  The likelihood of one person fulfilling some of them is staggering.  The likelihood of one person fulfilling all of them is immeasurable.  When we compare Jesus’ life with the prophecies, we see that he fulfilled everything that was foretold.  Therefore, he is the Christ, the Son of the living God.  The evidence is rock-solid.

     Next, we can consider Jesus’ life which was morally and ethically pure.  We can point to Jesus’ teachings which are completely in line with God’s word.  We can point to the miraculous signs Jesus did, and we can note that he did them out of mercy for the sick and suffering and not for showmanship.  Jesus is not an entertainer; he is a merciful and compassionate Savior.

     Perhaps the most compelling argument has to do with this: Three times, Jesus told his disciples explicitly that he would be betrayed by an apostle, suffer at the hands of the religious leaders, be mocked and crucified by the Romans, and then rise from the dead on the third day.  And then he did it!  His death was confirmed by the Roman governor, so there is no doubt that he died.  On the third day after his death, Jesus was seen alive by many of his disciples. 

     Some argue that Jesus’ disciples fabricated stories about Jesus’ resurrection.  Let’s put this claim under scrutiny to see which is more likely—that they saw Jesus risen from the dead or that they made it all up.  First of all, the disciples gained nothing by preaching about Jesus’ resurrection.  They did not get rich or gain power.  Their lives actually got much worse.  For their testimony, they endured threats, arrest, beatings, exile, torture, and death.  And yet, not once did any of them flinch.  They willingly died for their confession that Jesus Christ was crucified, is risen, and lives and reigns over all things forever and ever.  The only way it makes sense that every one of Jesus’ apostles faithfully and persistently confessed that Jesus rose from the dead and would rather die than deny it is if they actually saw Jesus risen from the dead.  This is a rock-solid confession.

     This is why Jesus said to Simon, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.  And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overpower it” (Matthew 16:17-18).  Although Jesus gave Simon the name Peter, he is not the rock on which the Church is built.  Our Lord does not build his Church on a fallible, mortal, sinful man.  In fact, just minutes after Jesus commended Simon Peter for his rock-solid confession, he called Simon “Satan” for dissuading him from going to the cross. 

     The rock on which the Church is built is Jesus Christ.  Salvation depends upon nothing else.  You are not saved by good works, no matter how many you do.  You are not saved by how many Bible passages you know.  You are not saved by how many arguments you win against Muslims, Jews, or Hindus.  You are not saved because others assure you that you are a good person.  Your salvation does not rest on you because you are sinful, fallible, and mortal—just like Simon Peter.  And just like Simon Peter, you and I have spoken words which have been inspired by Satan—words which have been untrue, unkind, or uncaring.  Jesus did not give Simon the name Peter because he was such a rock.  It was given because his confession was rock-solid.  It is the only confession by which we are saved.  St. Paul wrote, “No one can lay any other foundation than the one that has been laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11).  This rock-solid foundation does not shift, erode, or budge no matter what is going on in the world or in your life.  Jesus promises you that even the gates of hell cannot overpower it.

     That’s because Jesus Christ has secured your everlasting salvation and nothing can change that.  Jesus took up your sins from you, carried them to the cross for you, and suffered what sinners deserve so that fallible, sinful people can be pardoned.  No matter what accusation Satan hurls at you, he does not overturn Jesus’ sufferings and death for you.  Jesus has removed your guilt from you.  You have received a full pardon from God for all sins.  Nothing can change that.  It is a rock-solid truth.

     In the same way, nothing can nullify Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.  Jesus lives.  Death no longer has mastery over him.  And Jesus promises to all who believe: “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.  No one will snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all.  No one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:28-29).  Not even death can snatch you away from Jesus.  Jesus’ resurrection assures you that mortals will be raised up to immortality.  This is a rock-solid truth.

     The gates of hell can do nothing to strip you of your salvation.  For, Jesus descended into hell to proclaim his victory over the devil.  He proclaimed it on the devil’s home turf and to his face.  Jesus stormed the gates of hell to deliver sinners from the devil’s claims and clutches.  You are the prize Jesus has won by his sufferings, death, and resurrection.  And Jesus is the key which releases you from your sins and unlocks the gates of heaven to you.  You have his word on it, and it is as true in heaven as it is on earth.  This is a rock-solid confession.

     Who do you say that Jesus is?  He is the Christ—the one who was anointed to make the atoning sacrifice which takes away your sins.  Jesus gave himself as that sacrifice and now gives you the benefits of that sacrifice from this altar.  He is the Son of the living God—the God who became man to rescue all mankind from death and the devil.  He is the rock on which the Church is built.  Blessed are you who share in this confession.  It provides comfort in the darkest days of life, assurance when doubts arise, and confidence to stand at the final judgment. 

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.